Safest Cities in Illinois: Top 6 Places to Live in 2025

If you're looking to move within the Prairie State, safety is likely a big concern - and rightfully so. Whether you are trying to find the ideal place to raise a family, retire, or simply return to a neighborhood where evening walks are peaceful, the city you move to will impact your overall peace of mind. 
While Illinois may get national attention from Chicago's headlines, Illinois has plenty of communities that are quiet, well-kept, and, surprisingly, safe. From family-friendly suburbs to postcard-like small towns, there are plenty of cities in Illinois that consistently rank as some of the safest in the Midwest, and that safety is usually just a part of the overall quality of life. Other amenities these Illinois cities offer are trusted schools, clean parks, involved neighborhoods, and a true sense of home.
In this guide for the safest cities in Illinois (2025), we will summarize the cities where safety is not a statistic, but a way of life. These cities combine low crime, good public services, and connected neighborhoods to offer their residents a level of peace of mind and convenience hard to find. 

Top 6 Safest Cities in Illinois

If you’re looking for safe places to live in Illinois that don’t sacrifice amenities or access to big-city perks, these towns should top your list.

1. Campton Hills, Illinois

Campton Hills is a very safe city in Illinois, with a very low crime rate. In 2020, it was named the #1 safest city in Illinois and the #4 safest in the country. Campton Hills is one of the affordable suburbs of Chicago that has a population of about 10,700. The village is located in Kane County and is regularly considered one of the safest places to live in Illinois. Life in Campton Hills has a calm, rural feel, and most are homeowners. The village has plenty of wide-open parks and is a perfect spot for anyone who enjoys being outdoors. It is a community where many residents are somewhat conservative, and families enjoy living in the area because of the top-rated public schools.

The total crime in Campton Hills is 99.6% lower than the national average. First, for violent crime, in Campton Hills, there were 0 incidents of violent crime checked at a rate of 0 per 100,000 residents, which is 100% lower than the national average. Second, for property crimes, Campton Hills had 1 property crime at a rate of 9 per 100,000, which is 99.5% lower than the national average.

2. Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

If you've been searching for a quiet and safe place to live in Illinois, Hawthorn Woods is the place for you. This village in Illinois is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in both Illinois and the entire country.  According to NeighborhoodScout, Hawthorn Woods has a total crime rate of just 1.07 crimes (excluding traffic) per 1,000 people, and there were zero reported violent crimes in the last reporting period! Your odds of being a victim are about 1 in 937.

Moreover, when it comes to towns of this size across America, Hawthorn Woods is among the safest in the country. It has a Total Crime Index score of 92 (with 100 being the safest), which means it is safer than 92% of all cities across the country. Hawthorn Woods has had 10 total property crimes and zero total violent crimes! And hence one of the safest cities in Illinois!

3. Libertyville, Illinois

Libertyville, IL, is a particularly safe suburb in the Chicago area and provides residents with peace of mind that only a few towns in America can mimic. The total crime rate is 230 per 100,000 residents, compared to an American average of 2,324, a staggering 90.1% lower than the national average.

These figures place Libertyville as a first-class choice for families, working professionals, and retirees alike who value safety. The combination of small-town ambiance coupled with superb safety records puts it on the list of most desirable and safest cities in Illinois.

4. Huntley, Illinois

Huntley, Illinois, has earned a reputation for community safety, and has been noted by many prestigious outlets as one of the Top 100 Safest Cities in the U.S.! By analyzing FBI crime data, NeighborhoodScout reported that Huntley is safer than 65% of U.S. cities and towns, which is an impressive statistic for families or retirees looking for safety and peace of mind.

If you live in Huntley, the chances of becoming a crime victim are a mere 1 in 178, compared to the national average of 1 in 44. Huntley has an overall crime rate of 10.85 per 1,000 residents; that is far below the Illinois average of 35.83 and the U.S. average of 33.37. Violent crime in Huntley is rare, at a reported rate of 5.46, and property crime (theft) is at 5.39, which is a fraction of what Illinois or the U.S. has as an average. Huntley's low level of crime (community safety), strong sense of community, and ability to fund local public services all enhance Huntley as both a desired location for people to reside and a safe place to live.

5. Gilberts, Illinois

If you are looking for a peaceful, safe suburb, Gilberts, Illinois, could be the ideal fit for you. With a Total Crime Index of 87, this quaint village is safer than 87% of cities in the U.S., which is an excellent statistic for safety-minded families and retirees. Gilberts has a very low crime rate at 336 per 100,000 residents, which is 85.6% lower than the national average. This only includes a lone reported violent crime (12 per 100,000 people)—96.8% lower than the U.S. average—and just 27 property crimes (324 per 100,000), which is 83.4% below the national average.

These extremely low rates speak more than just numbers—they represent a tightly-bound, civically-engaged community where families feel comfortable walking the streets, letting their kids play outside, and making long-term investments in their neighborhoods. Gilberts is consistently ranked among the safest cities in Illinois, America. It is certainly an ideal community for police, safety, and community-oriented families.

6. Western Springs, Illinois

Located just outside of Chicago, Western Springs is a small but exciting community that exceeds expectations when it comes to livability. With a population of just over 13,000 people, it certainly feels small-town and shows no shortage of the same upscale necessities of city life. Western Springs is rated #5 in the State of Illinois for best cities. The city is rated top 1% in the country for livability, and if that isn't impressive enough, it was rated #104 in the entire nation. Western Springs is not only a great place to call home in the State of Illinois, but that would also be true if you are ranked so high in the country. No degrees of livability come without a price. Living here is not cheap; you can expect higher housing costs, groceries, health care, and everyday necessities as you become accustomed to life's expensive details. However, the majority of the individuals who call Western Springs home feel that the expense is worth it, as the community layout is dense and easily walkable (4,757 people per square mile) , charming neighborhoods and above all, a community with a feeling of safety, security, and community pride. Hence, it certainly takes a spot in our safest cities in Illinois guide!

Western Springs' crime rate is 84% lower than the national average. There were 0 violent crimes in Western Springs, which is 0 per 100,000 persons, which is -100%. Western Springs' property crime was 49, or 372 per 100,000 persons, which is lower by 81% than the national average.

Tips for Finding a Safe Place to Live in Illinois

Identifying the safest place to live in Illinois involves more than simply comparing crime statistics. It is essential to know how to do your research, what questions to ask, and how to read the information with a critical eye. The tools and ways to do your research will help you locate the best options.
Here are some real-world hacks, tips, and apps to help you find the safest cities in Illinois:

• Nextdoor: Find hyperlocal chatter on everything from break-ins to block parties
• Citizen App: See live crime alerts in real time for your target area
• City-Data.com: Great for comparing crime, demographics, and schools side-by-side
• CrimeMapping.com: A visual tool used by local law enforcement to post daily activity

This updated 2025 guide highlights the safest cities in Illinois based on violent crime rates, property crime statistics, and resident satisfaction.

When you are choosing the city, you want to like it all and feel as though you can feel safe each time you walk out the door. The safest cities in Illinois not only stood out for their low crime rates, but they also provided solid, clean neighborhoods, great schools, and good communities. If you are looking for safe places to live in Illinois for students alone or with family, it is possible to find towns that prove that safety and responsibility do matter. From the suburbs of top-ranked areas to charming small towns, the safest cities in Illinois have continued to be a standard for feeling at home. 

Off - Campus Student Housing in Illinois

Illinois is also a major hub for students coming with dreams and aspirations from all across the world. Studying at top universities definitely comes with challenges academic as well as non-academic. One of the major ones is finding the perfect safe as well as comfortable student apartment. A student majorly looks for modern living spaces, with good amenities, prime location, basically a place they can call home away from home. With amber you can get access to the best apartments within just a few minutes making it easy and convenient for you. Few of the best student apartments have been mentioned below:

1. June Homes 60622, Chicago - Student - ready rooms in Chicago with all essentials, near top universities.
2. Pacifica on Green, Champaign - Pet-friendly, comfortable and safe apartments in the heart of Champaign.
3. Post, Chicago - Spacious apartments with modern amenities, a one stop destination for all the student needs.
4. Infinite Chicago, Chicago - sophisticated and fully furnished apartments with 24/7 security enhancing the experience of student housing in Chicago.
5. MDA Apartments, Chicago - Student living with a heated pool, gym, co-working spaces etc all while being located in Chicago’s  prime location.